[POLL] Millennials invest in cars, but don’t realize the actual costs

Author profile picture

Susan Meyer

Senior Editorial Manager

Susan is a licensed insurance agent and has worked as a writer and editor for over 10 years across a number of industries. She has worked at The Zebr…

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
Author profile picture

Renata Balasco

Senior Content Strategist

Renata joined The Zebra in 2020 as a Customer Experience Agent. Since 2021, she has worked as licensed insurance professional and content strategist.…

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty

Millennials and car payments

Millennials are often associated with less-than-stellar stigmas. However, this collective group of individuals — those born between 1981 and 1997 — is currently the largest living generation, and a major influence on the health of our economy.

Often characterized as “lazy,” “entitled,” and even “demanding,” millennials come out of the gate with much to prove. One of the biggest stereotypes surrounding the generation is its members' emotional and financial dependence upon their parents. While this might not be totally off-base (24 percent of millennials reported receiving help from their parents with a bill or two), many millennials work hard, earn their own money, and even want to invest it.

We polled more than 3,000 Americans between the ages of 18–34 and found the following:

  • 65% of millennials think paying off a car is a worthy investment.
  • More than half of these respondents make their own car payments, with only 8% saying their parents make them.
  • 26% of millennials are willing to spend just $100 on a monthly car payment, at most.

Despite the negative stigmas, our findings showed a large percentage of millennials valued owning a car, and even intended to make payments without the help of an older individual...they’re just a little confused as to what it might actually cost them.

Do millennials think paying off a car is a worthy investment?

 millennial car ownership survey

The short answer is yes.

Millennials do think paying off a car is a worthy investment. More than half of those polled (65 percent) believed it was in their best interest to not only have a car, but also to invest in one. Though both women and men replied this way, women were 12 percent more likely to consider it a worthy investment than men.

In fact, millennials are taking out auto loans more often than did previous generations. This is due in large part to advances in technology, making the car-buying process quicker and more efficient. Also, the ability to take out a six-year loan has afforded this younger generation more financial flexibility when purchasing a vehicle. We’ve seen a significant uptick in the number of young people aspiring to car ownership, especially in sprawling, car-dependent cities.

 millennial parents car payments

Here is where we see the millennial stigmas shattered. While it’s widely believed that millennials don’t foot many of their own bills, we found this to be untrue in the case of cars. Only 8 percent of millennials said their parents made their car payments for them. In fact, more millennials reported not having a car than said their parents made car payments on their behalf. More than half (52 percent) said they paid for their cars out of their own pocket. Of those that did, most (59 percent) were in the older age bracket (25–34 years), compared to 43 percent in the 18–24 age bracket.

Save an average of $440 on car insurance when using The Zebra.

Location pin icon
No junk mail. No spam calls. Free quotes.

What are millennials willing to spend on a monthly car payment?

 how much will millennials pay for a car

While we send kudos to all millennials who are — or intend to — make their own car payments, a quarter of them have a skewed perception of what that might actually cost. We surveyed those aged 18–34 to gauge the maximum monthly outlay they’d be willing to spend on car payments. While the results varied, 26 percent said they’d be willing to spend no more than $100 per month. As most car owners can attest, it’s hard to find a driveable car at that price point. In fact, the average car payment in 2018 is more than $400 per month. It’s safe to say millennials expectations are a bit off.

Although many millennials preferred to spend $100 or less per month, the third-highest answer was $500 or more a month. This shows a large discrepancy between those who would pay little to nothing and those who would spend a good chunk of their income on a monthly car payment. 19 percent of those aged 25–34 said they’d pay over $500 a month, compared to just 13 percent in the 18–24 age bracket.

We calculated the estimated price it would cost to make each of those specific monthly payments for the duration of a six-year loan:

  • Less than $100 a month: <$7,200
  • $100-$199: $14,328 at most
  • $200-$299: $21,528 at most
  • $300-$399: $28,728 at most
  • $400-$499: $35,928 at most
  • Over $500: >$36,000

What kind of car can you actually drive for $100 a month or less?

While cars are on the market for less than $7,200, it’s important to note the safety repercussions that can come at this price point. Many vehicles at this price level will have high mileage, dings and scratches, less reliable brakes and engines, and can even utilize recalled parts. If you plan on financing a car for less than $100 per month, do ample research to ensure its safety and reliability. Follow some of these tips for buying a used car:

  • Do your research — Spend a generous amount of time researching cars online and in-person before making your final decision. It’s best to shop around with various private sellers to get the best deals and cars in the best shape.
  • Know which questions to ask — Create a checklist and keep it handy when inspecting the car so you remember to ask the important questions. This checklist should include queries like, “Are the dashboard warning signs funtional?” and “Do all the gauges work?”
  • Run a vehicle history report — This is an essential step in any car-buying process, old or new. Using the vehicle’s VIN number, you can pull up a report that displaying prior crashes, salvage title information and other vital material.  
  • Get the car inspected — In some cases, it’s helpful to take the car to a mechanic to inspect the reliability of the car as an unbiased party.
  • Take a test drive — Take the car out on a sufficient test drive. This will allow you to assess the car's feel at different speeds, its braking power, mirror and windshield visibility, and the function of check-engine lights.

It might surprise some that millennials think owning a car is a worthy investment. And while most seem to pay their own car bills, it’s interesting to note how little they’re willing to spend on monthly payments. Aside from the car payment, there are other significant expenses the come with owning a car: insurance, upkeep, gas and much more. The average car payment continues to rise year over year, so it will be interesting to see how this correlates with the importance and desire of owning a car in the years to come.

Sources:
  1. 10 Steps to Buying a Used Car. Edmunds

  2. How much financial help are millennials getting from their parents?Mic

  3. What Is the Average Monthly Car Payment? The Balance

  4. Here's how much more the typical baby boomer makes than the typical millennial in every US state. Business Insider

  5. Mom and Dad foot some bills for 1 in 4 millennials working full time. CNBC

  6. 8 Tips for Buying a $5,000 Car. Money Talks News